as in pile
a quantity of wood heaped together for burning a dead body
a funeral pyre
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Recent Examples of pyre
Carcasses of trees are piled up like pyres in one; in another, they are laid flat like a mass grave.
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Varanasi was quite an experience, seeing the funeral pyres.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026
Thecla is stripped naked and placed on a pyre, but no flames touch her.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Flaked points of stone tools were also found on the pyre, suggesting the pointed stones were added during the cremation as funerary objects.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pyre
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Varanasi was quite an experience, seeing the funeral pyres.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026
Thecla is stripped naked and placed on a pyre, but no flames touch her.
—Christy Cobb, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Flaked points of stone tools were also found on the pyre, suggesting the pointed stones were added during the cremation as funerary objects.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pyre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pyre
Noun
-
Though the worst has not come to pass, Moscow’s decision — driven by domestic shortfalls caused by Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries — piles further pressure on the sector.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
-
The conglomerate held a record cash pile of nearly $400 billion at the end of March.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Waitress clothes in a fish-smelling heap.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Aerial views on Friday revealed heaps of crumpled structures on the ground, with just one tower and the water tank still standing.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The technology stack comes second.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The marble baths have stacks of oversized towels, impressive waterfall-like pressure in the showers, soaking tubs, and Diptyque toiletries in eco-friendly pump bottles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Ever since her father left the fort almost a whole season ago, walking off into the darkening blue hills with both his hounds, never to return, her mother has taken to these long and aimless searches, sometimes with Brith and sometimes without.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Pamushana's infinity pool glitters to the cliff edge, beneath which is the Malilangwe Dam and panoramic views of rolling hills covered in green mopane woodland and orange sandstone cliffs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The best treks were clustered in the Greater Caucasus mountains, not far from the Russian border.—
Lori Rackl,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Many of the rooms at this ultra-luxe hideaway dangle from rocky ledges, are sandwiched between cliff crevices or are embedded like caves in the interior of the mountains, connecting guests intimately with the landscape.—
Lauren Keith,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pyre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pyre. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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